On the 31st anniversary of the social uprising known as the Maleconazo and four years since the national uprising of July 11, 2021 (11J), a high-ranking official of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) sparked outrage on social media with statements deemed cynical and blatantly false.
“On August 5, 1994, there was no need to fire a shot. On July 11, 2021, neither: it’s called the people, firmness, and leadership. That’s why #IStandWithMyPresident! #100YearsWithFidel,” wrote on X Enrique Villuendas, an official from the Ideological Department of the Central Committee of the PCC.
The publication has been widely criticized for minimizing the state repression during both historic days.
The journalist and researcher José Raúl Gallego denied Villuendas' claims and recalled the violence exerted by the regime on both occasions.
Gallego refuted the official in a thread with documentation and evidence collected by the data journalism project Inventario.
"The person who made this false post is Enrique Villuendas, an official of the Ideological Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. On July 11, there were not only many shots fired at an unarmed population; there were also injuries and one death," he wrote.
The journalist recalled the case of Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, a 36-year-old young man who was shot in the back in La Güinera, Havana, during the protests on July 11th.
The shot was fired with a standard Makarov pistol by a police officer, as reported by the Cuban Prosecutor's Office at the time.
This crime is documented in a video of the protest and confirmed by various sources, although an independent investigation was never allowed, nor was the name of the officer involved revealed.
In addition, Gallego shared images of citizens injured by rubber bullets and lethal projectiles fired by law enforcement and armed civilians linked to the Ministry of the Interior.
Regarding the Maleconazo, the journalist noted that, although there are few videos since it took place in 1994, there are abundant testimonies that confirm the use of police violence and the notoriously infamous shock groups of the Blas Roca Calderío Contingent to suppress the protest.
"Few videos exist from the Maleconazo due to the time period, but there is evidence and testimonies of the violence inflicted by the police and the shock groups [...] so that later Fidel could stage his theater," Gallego added, dismantling the official narrative that presents the dictator's presence as sufficient to calm the masses.
The publication by Villuendas has been interpreted as part of a propaganda campaign to clean up the regime's image during sensitive dates in Cuba's historical memory.
The official Suseli Morfa, known for her controversial defense of the Havana regime, echoed Villuendas' remarks and stated this Tuesday that the government and Castro "crushed the counter-revolution on the Malecón."
In contrast, many users on social media have shared images, testimonies, and videos from July 11th, clearly showing the use of state violence against peaceful protesters.
The images of mothers crying for their children, young people being dragged away by police, and citizens beaten by pro-government mobs sharply contradict the assertion that "not a single shot was fired."
After July 11, more than 700 Cubans, mostly young people, were also sentenced to long prison terms.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Maleconazo and the 11J in Cuba
What happened during the Maleconazo and the 11J in Cuba?
The Maleconazo, which occurred on August 5, 1994, was a social uprising in Havana driven by discontent with the economic and political conditions in Cuba, while on July 11, 2021 (11J), there was a series of nationwide protests against the Cuban regime, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship. Both events were marked by state repression against the protesters.
Did the Cuban authorities use lethal force during 11J?
Yes, Cuban authorities used lethal force during the protests of July 11th. There were documented shots fired at unarmed protesters, resulting in injuries and at least one death, Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, who was killed by a gunshot in La Güinera, Havana. This use of force was widely criticized and documented by journalists and activists.
What was the Cuban government's response to the protests of July 11th?
The Cuban government's response to the 11J was a violent repression of the protests, followed by mass detentions and summary trials. More than 700 demonstrators were sentenced to long prison terms. The regime has attempted to delegitimize the protests, labeling them as vandalistic acts organized from abroad.
Why has the Cuban government been criticized in relation to the Maleconazo and the 11J?
The Cuban government has been criticized for its handling of the protests of Maleconazo and 11J due to its use of force, violent repression, and manipulation of the official narrative. The regime's statements that downplay state violence have been countered with evidence of repression and abuse of power, which has sparked outrage both inside and outside the island.
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